Earth-auger



v(No ModeL) W. W. CURTIS.

EARTH AUGER.

No. 331,228. PatentedNoV. 24. 1885.

UNITED vSTATESV PATENT Querce,

WILLIAM CURTIS, OF STANBERRY, MISSOURI.

EARTH-AUGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,228, dated November24, 1885.

Application filed February 15, 1883. Renewed May 9, 1885. Serial No.164,970. (No model.) Swfa .To @ZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WM. W. CURTIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stanberry, in the county of Gentry and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Earth-Angers; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side view of my auger. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view, and Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views ofthe same. y

This invention has relation to angers for removing earth, sand, andstone; and the invention consists in the construction and novelarrangement of devices, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letters A A designate the sections ofthe pod or cylinder, which are made in semi-cylindrical form of strongboiler-iron, thev vertical edges of the sections being neatlyT fittedtogether, so that when the sections are closed the pod will be perfectlycylindrical and adapted to turn easily in the ground. The approximateedges of the sections may be provided with lugs a,

which engage the edges of the opposite sections in a reciprocal mannerand serve to hold the edges of the sections in relative position. Thelower edge of each section is inclined, as indicated at b, and to thedeeper portion thereof is joined the sector-shaped base-piece B, whichslopes toward the center, and is formed with a'rabbet, c, at the end C,which projects beyond the longer vertical edge d of each section. Eachbase-piece B is provided with a series of linger-bars, E, the ends ofwhich project over the rabbet c.

D D represent the bits, each of which is made of steel, and extendsradially from the outer circle of the base to the center, the directionof the cutting-edge e being somewhat rearward as well as inward from theouter upwardly-hanged end f of the bit. Each bit is seated on the rabbetc of the base-piece B `of the cylinder-section, the finger-bars Eextending over the body of the bit and being secured thereto by smallbolts, which extend through perforations in the nger-bars, the bit, andthe rabbeted seat. The upper end of one section is provided with arms F,which extend radially toward the vertical axis ofthe auger and areformed with vertical branches g, which are riveted or welded together,forming a solid shank. The upper end of the other section is alsoprovided with radiallyextending arms F', having vertical branches g',which are pivoted to the shank of the first section by means of a bolt,as at h, so that when the sections are closed together the shank will bebetween the arms g. This connection is still further strengthened by aswinging clamp, H, the upper portion of which is pivoted on the bolt h.The parallel walls of the clamp near its lower end are provided withslots k to receive a transverse key, I, which serves to secure thebranches g and g of the arms F and Fwithin the clamp holding thesections of the pod together in position for work. Vhen the auger israised,the contents are discharged by separating the sections, the key Ihaving been knocked out of its bearings in the clamp. In rocky soil itis designed to remove one section of the pod, the bolt h beingwithdrawn. The remaining section will operate effectively to removerocks and bowlders. In sandy soil a sand-valve, L, should be employed.This sand-valve consists of a circular band of iron having a transversebar, m, extending diametrically, and semicircular valve pieces p ofleather or rubber, to the upper surfaces of which thin iron platesnareattached by means of rivets. The valve-pieces p are hinged by means ofwire connections to the center bar of the band-iron Z. This circularband is provided with studs s, designed to engage perforations t in thewalls of the pod-sections near the lower ends thereof, so that when saidsections are closed together the sand-valve will be held in position.When'the auger is turned in the sand, the valve-pieces yield upwardlyand the pod is filled with the sand,

which, when the auger is raised and opened.v

to discharge, drops out with the sand-valve.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is v l. The semi-cylindrical pod-sections having therabbeted base-pieces', and the finger-bars projecting over the same tohold the bits, subl stantially as specified.

2. The semi-cylindrical pod-sections having branohes g and g', pivotedtogether, and provided with a pivoted clamp-bearing having its lateralwalls slotted to receive a transverse key, substantially as specified.

3. The sand-valve consisting of an iron bandring having studs at itssides to engage the pod-sections, a transverse rod diametricallyarranged, and leather valve-pieces covered With thin metal and hinged bymeans of Wire to said transverse rod, substantially as speei- 15 fled.

4.' The combination, with the semi-cylindrical pod-sections havingperforations in their Walls, of the sand-valve having a ring or bandframe provided with studs projecting 2o at opposite sides to engage-theperforations of said pod-sections, substantially as specied.

In testimony whereof I afX my signature in

